mailman2
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Posts posted by mailman2
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I am married to an Asian lady that is half my age and we are both happy, an 8 year relationship. You expect me to feel guilty about that?
Lets see, I seem to recall that around 50% of marriages in the US end in divorce (the ones that don't have a huge age difference). So, why not marry a young lady if you find a good one. I know, some would rather be with older spouses.
As long as you take the time to get to know a younger lady, understand her culture and way of thinking (it's much different then western ladies) then why not? Who cares what other people think as long as you are both happy. There are a fair number of western women that pick their husband based on the money factor! So either way, be careful and get a pre -nup.
Another thing, some of these younger Asian women married to older gents are not considered beautiful in their home countries but are appreciated in the west.
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That sounds like a valid concern. Did you contact an immigration attorney (a quick call would probably do) or someone at your nearest Immigration office to see what they say? That is what the Authorization for Parole form suggests if you have any concerns. Good luck!
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I wonder how Paul McCartney feels about pre-nups?
Although we are not in his league financially, only goes to show what can happen.
Good luck to those getting married for the first time and feeling a pre-nup is not
what they want and sure hope it works out for you.
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As was said, pre nups are becoming more common place these days and when
the divorce rate hovers around 50%, it certainly doesn't sound unreasonable
to have one.
Having been through one divorce and seeing how the thought of
eternal love went south, I would definitely want to protect my assets!
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My fiancee and I arrived in the US a few days ago, POE was Honolulu. At Honolulu, you have top go to a special line, not the normal imigration line. Make sure you tell the customs pewrson directing people that this is a first time K-1 entry.
Actually, it's a CR1, not a K1, for becca's husband.
Once at counter A, the customs person not only wanted the sealed package that they gave us back at the Embassy, he wanted the X-Rays from the medical exam. I had to go down to get it out of my luggage and bring it back. So make sure you carry the X-rays also.For real? I think this must be the second time on VJ I can recall them being requested at POE. In general, you will not be asked for them, but clearly you never know.
Also, besides filling out the normal declaration form, my fiancee had to fill out and I-94 form which they give you on the plane, so don't forget to do that.Again, as becca's husband is coming in on a CR1 he should NOT fill in an I-94. The only form that needs to be filled in is the customs form for both becca and her husband.
Sorry to sound snippy here, but the protocol at POE is different for the different visas. It's always advisable to check which visa the OP is asking about before giving advice.
Thanks for pointing that out. Your right, I don't know anything about a CR1 visa, since mine was a K-1. I just wanted to post what my experience was for a K-1 POE and warn anyone coming in on a K-1 what to expect. A little off topic, so I suppose I should shut up. Thanks again for pointing that out.
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My fiancee and I arrived in the US a few days ago, POE was Honolulu. At Honolulu, you have top go to a special line, not the normal imigration line. Make sure you tell the customs pewrson directing people that this is a first time K-1 entry.
Once at counter A, the customs person not only wanted the sealed package that they gave us back at the Embassy, he wanted the X-Rays from the medical exam. I had to go down to get it out of my luggage and bring it back. So make sure you carry the X-rays also. Also, besides filling out the normal declaration form, my fiancee had to fill out and I-94 form which they give you on the plane, so don't forget to do that.
The EAD stamp that was mentioned, was not an option at the POE for a K-1 visa. The customs officer said to check with CIS office. Other then that, entry into the US was not a big deal, you just need to make sure all these little details are taken care of in order to make sure things go smoothly.
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I just accompanied my fiancee to the US Embassy in Bangkok for her interview last week. She was approved and got her visa three business days after the interview.
Here is what else I learned. Make sure you have the original birth certificate and original I-134 notarized form and original Police report to give to the person doing the interview. I think if we didn't have the original documents, they would have had us come back at another time, so be warned to bring original documents with you.
What else, we got there at 7 AM and it seems that they don't necessarily call you up in the order you get there. A few ladies were rejected because their fiance's financial situation wasn't good enough and one because of insufficient documentation.
It was interesting listening to the K-1 interviews, as well as those applying for visitor visas. As others have said, if you sit close by, you can hear what they ask. My fiancee had a little tough time answering the questions, so I am glad I was there. I had to step up to the window and clear up a few items.
They do try to help, but my fiancee did not understand the the way the interviewer asked his questions. He asked, what year did you meet your fiance and she screwed up the falang year. If he had asked how many years have you known your fiance, she would have been OK. Just a small point, but if I was not there to correct this, she probably would not have gotten the visa.
It doesn't seem like the interviewer looked at her packet at all, so all the good information to verify things probably won't be used, your faincee will have to know these things. A Thai person stood next to the interviewer, so if your fiancee doesn't understand, make sure she says so and speaks Thai if she has to.
As far as picking up the visa in Bangkok, this is done at 3 PM at the embassy. It takes all of one minute and is very fast. The day we went back, there were only 5-6 ladies there to get their visas.
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When going thru JFK my husband and I both went in the non us citizen line together. Make sure you request your temp EAD stamp! It will be valid for 90 days! If you don't ask you won't get it! Once we made it thru we were sent to the immigration office behind the. Customs agents cubicle. It scared me but they didn't do anything but take our package from us and then we were fee to go on. All you need is your package your passports and whatever they give you to fill out on plane. Make sure you fill it out the entire form! I saw a lot of people who didn't do so and it pissed the agents off! Airline doesn't matter you all end up in the same place! It is up to the customs agent to determine whether your husband is free to enter! This would be rare if it happened! If you are with him it definitely won't happen!
Good luck!
Khia and Zeki
Arrival processing for K-1 and IR(CR)-1 are different
Since he is arriving on an immigrant visa, the 90 day EAD does not apply here as he will receive his green card immediately. At first a stamp in the passport and then in 2-4 weeks the card itself. They only need fill out the customs declaration and NOT an I-94 as the I-94 is only for visitors and other non-immigrants.
Regarding the customs declaration form... Does my fiancee need to declare everything she is bringing in her suitcase? Not sure how to fill in the customes form on this. Thanks
Sorry, I found another thread where a few people said to leave the declaration blank. I am going to do that and have a list of items that my fiancee is bringing and see what Customs wants to do.
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When going thru JFK my husband and I both went in the non us citizen line together. Make sure you request your temp EAD stamp! It will be valid for 90 days! If you don't ask you won't get it! Once we made it thru we were sent to the immigration office behind the. Customs agents cubicle. It scared me but they didn't do anything but take our package from us and then we were fee to go on. All you need is your package your passports and whatever they give you to fill out on plane. Make sure you fill it out the entire form! I saw a lot of people who didn't do so and it pissed the agents off! Airline doesn't matter you all end up in the same place! It is up to the customs agent to determine whether your husband is free to enter! This would be rare if it happened! If you are with him it definitely won't happen!
Good luck!
Khia and Zeki
Arrival processing for K-1 and IR(CR)-1 are different
Since he is arriving on an immigrant visa, the 90 day EAD does not apply here as he will receive his green card immediately. At first a stamp in the passport and then in 2-4 weeks the card itself. They only need fill out the customs declaration and NOT an I-94 as the I-94 is only for visitors and other non-immigrants.
Regarding the customs declaration form... Does my fiancee need to declare everything she is bringing in her suitcase? Not sure how to fill in the customes form on this. Thanks
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i also did mine in advance and figured i would just eat the cost of a change fee if things didn't work out at our interview.
"the pink slip" is the approval. and in bkk the turnaround time was 2 business days for my husband to pick up his visa.
(some countries you do not have the option to pick up, it is delivered to you)
GOOD LUCK!
Please fill in your timeline
ugh! in the few days since I posted this question, the fares between Bangkok and U.S. have gone up an average of $1,000! I shoulda just pulled the trigger.
I'm getting hit with the high summer time rates for flights where I live also. I want to get my fiance here from Thailand the end of July when I am there, so she can fly with me. If I were to wait until September, it would be a lot less for a flight! Also, it seems when you purchase a ticket from Thailand, the additional charges they add to an airline ticket a quite hefty compared to what they charge in the US.
Something I wasn't sure of. It sounds like for an immigrant K-1 fiance visa, it is fine to only purchase a one way ticket. It doesn't have to be a round trip ticket. Didn't realize that until I read this thread.
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Hi,
I had my medical and vaccines here in bangkok. They have 2 accredited hospital here in bangkok, BNH hospital and Burmugrad. You can download the forms via US website just to be sure because BNH hospital don't have forms. I received my packet 3 but there is no medical forms there. I think medical forms are in packet 4...Im not sure because we don't have packet 4 until now.
Theresa
The medical forms are in packet 4, or as stated you can see what they look like if you go to the link supplied in a previous post.
My finacee went for her medical exam last week in Bangkok, Bumrungrad. The fee for the medical screening is 2400 baht, not 2000 baht as stated on the form. She doesn't have any medical records for shots, so will have to get the full set. She got 3 shots this time for 2499 baht and the blood tests cost 400 baht (over 5000 baht so far).
She is supposed to go back in a month for a second set of shots. Not sure which shots she got, will be there next week so maybe I can update. As others have said, she was given a sealed package with the results of her medical screening and told not to open it, just give it to the embassy folks when she went for her interview. I think this means everything is OK, or they would have told her, but since ####### applies here, don't know.
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For Thailand, the medical forms are in packet 4. Looks like it used to be called packet 3. Go to this link, in the Bangkok U.S. Embassy website and select medical exam documents. This what my girlfriend just got this last month in the mail. Not sure what shots she needs, but will find out. Here is the link:
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_vis...structions.html
Also, the Bangkok Embassy does have a tab on that page where you can see the scheduled interview
date at the emabassy. Looks like it only gets updated once a month, so July appointments aren't listed yet. You will need to know your fiancees case ID number BNK........ to verify time and date.
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Can't edit the previous post for some reason, so:
One thing that I did notice with the packet 4 (medical evaluation forms.etc..) was that the U.S. Embassy wants to know if the Thai fiancee was not married in an undocumented marriage (not registered with the Amphur). She needs to get proof of that. Yes, sounds very strange, doesn't it? How do you prove that she was not in an undocumented relationship. Luckily, my girl friend talked with the village "adan" or what ever they call the village head and she knows where to go and what document to get. That threw me for a loop, only in Thailand.
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I emailed the U.S. Bangkok Embassy rearding having Thai documents stamped certified by the Thai government and this is the reply I got back from them.
"Thank you for your inquiry. Thai official documents do not have to be certified by Thai government. Normally, we require translated documents only in the case that the document is written in third language."
So it doesn not appear that you have to have them stamped certified. Anybody else had any experience with this? The original poster seems to have moved on.
Also, when your teelak goes to the national police center in Bangkok to get the background check done, it says to take two passport photo's with you. Well, as of two months ago, they take the pictures and put it on a computer, so they did not use teelaks photo's. Be aware, she will have to fill out some paper work and many of the ladies where having trouble with the forms and how to fill them out. The police folks working there are very nice and helpful though. This department was top notch, really good service!
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Congratulations!
I have a question, what do you mean by "stamped certified"? I know you mention immigration office, however, would a translation service certification stamp be sufficient? if not, does my fiancee need to head to the Soi Suan Plu, Bangkok immigration office to get an additional stamp?
Thanks.
I'm still wondering the same. I know the OP said to have a few papers stamped certified by Thai Immigration, just want to make sure.
We just had a translation service give it their stamp for the birth certificate and house residence paper. If it has to be from the Thai government (immigration Office), please let us know and where you are supposed to get this thing stamped. Thanks.
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#1. Make sure that your Thai finance’s Birth Certificate and House Residence paper be translated and “stamped certified” by Thai immigration. I read on this website someone wrote that the translation is only needed for when you get to the US, that the translation can be done in the usa, that all you need for the interview is the originals.>That’s wrong! Yes you need the originals and you need to get it translated now, before the interview. Also get it stamped by the Thai Govt.
#2. The DS-156 must be filled out online on the US govt. website.
#4. You need to go to the post office across the street from the consulate, behind the Sidhorn building to pay $100. dollars in order to pay for your K-1 Visa. You cannot pay for your K-1 at the consulate. Just go into the post office and tell them you need to pay K-1 Visa American Embassy, they will understand, they will give you a receipt. ANDREW
Andrew,
Thanks for all the information. I would have missed the above highlighted items and have a few questions.
What is the house residence paper that is referred to? Maybe I just need to search more, but don't know what it is.
Also, these paper MUST be translated and stamped by Thai Immigration? Where are they located, if yi remember (or again, maybe I have to search more.
Thanks for the heads up regarding the DS-156 form, I found the official form needed at https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp
If anyone knows why you have to go across the street to pay a fee at the post office, just curious what fee this is?
Again, thanks for posting these details! It can certainly save the rest of us hours or even days when going through this!
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I posted on another thread, but I filed I-129F August 2, 2007 and am just getting approved for NOA2 (electronically). I am still waiting for the NOA2 letter though, so 6 months for that part is what I saw from the California Center.
USCIS claims to have had a flood of applications for Visa's the end of July 2007, just before they raised the processing fees in August 2007, so this along with the holidays seems to have extended that part of the process. From what I have read, the rest of the Visa process will vary, because you and your beneficiary have to fill out forms and get paper work done, so that will vary and depend on how quickly that goes. Good luck and relax!
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I think the USCIS had a flood of applications the end of July 2007 to avoid the increased filing fees that took place beginning August 2007. My I-129F got to USCIS and took from August 2, 2007 until January 11, 2008 to get approved (electronic notification) and I still don't have the paper in hand, so 6 months sounds about what it is going to take for me.
I called the USCIS to ask why it was taking so long to get the approval paper (hardcopy), since the email said that the approval had been mailed about two weeks ago. They said that they are allowed 30 days to deliver the approval. Since it only takes 3-4 days to mail something, it seems the USCIS did not actually mail anything yet, despite what the email said. They are just slowing things down a little more I suspect.
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glad i came across this thread
my husband is also on disability and isn't working
his benefits do not meet the set poverty guidelines, therefore we are submitting another "I-134 set" from a qualified USC
we are still clueless as to what documents to submit with our I-134, any information about I-134s and disability benefits is appreciated
anyway...
"To file this form, it needs to be sworn to or affirmed by a USCIS Officer at any USCIS Office, by a notary public, or other official authorized to administer oaths for general purposes. If the sponsor is outside the United States, the affidavit must be sworn to or affirmed by a USCIS Officer or Consular Officer at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Once the form is affirmed, it should be mailed to the same USCIS office where the application was filed."
...just making sure here - exactly when should my husband mail the I-134 to CSC? all the while we understood he was to mail the documents directly to me for my visa interview. please enlighten me. thanks.
neenuh,
I'm going through this the first time, just like everyone else, so experience is in short supply.
Our situations are a little different, I have submitted an I-129F fiancee visa application and received a NOA1. Apparantly, that means the CSC got it, now I am waiting for a NOA2, which I believe should be the signal to get the I-134 notarized or signed by USCIS and then send it to the address they request (national service center?). I think they then forward it to the embassy. Same for everyone so far. A copy of the financial information was suggested on the forum also.
As far as what documents to have with you when the I-134 gets notarized/signed by USCIS and then sent in, I just gathered what the forum recommended:
last 3 years of 1040 tax forms with any W2's
transcript of last 3 years tax returns (can get via automated telephone system to IRS)
Last several months statements of any savings, checking accounts, IRA's, etc
A letter from the company that has my IRA stating when I opened the account, how much I have, etc...
last 3 years beginning statement from the SSA stating what SSA disability benefits will be, minus insurance (sent out every December/January)
If you own a home, mortgage statements (how much you owe)
property tax statements as proof of property value (how much equity you have)
and as I stated above, a list of itemized personal property, if you really need to do this to qualify
That is what I am doing, so if anyone has anything to add, sure would appreciate it. Thanks
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I am also on disabilty and not working, a very helpful discussion regarding disability and what to do.
One question I still have is, on form I-134, what did others put for question 7 - I am
employed as or engaged in the business of? I was thinking of putting retired, none
or disabled with attached explanation. How did others answer this question. Thanks
I haven't heard back from anyone that has actually had experience with this, so went down to the
local USCIS office with my I-134 and most supposting documentation to get signed. They weren't too concerned what was answered in question 7 and it's also on the I-129 also.
They do want to see proof of whatever $$$$ figure is put down. I understood that, but missed the following, on the I-134 is a line for personal property, I think I put down $40,000, but for some reason, didn't think to provide any proof. Basically, for this item, they just said put together a list of what you have and add up the numbers, car - use Kelly Blue Book, clothes, furniture... Don't let that get you! Anyway, I was a little too early to get the I-134 signed, but got many other questions answered.
The rep also pointed out that down the road, when filling out an I-485 Adjust of Status, yes it is $1010, but if you want to get advanced parole I-131, it does not cost any more and is included in the I-485. She circled the last paragraph on page 2 of the I-485 which states this. That's good news.
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I am also on disabilty and not working, a very helpful discussion regarding disability and what to do.
One question I still have is, on form I-134, what did others put for question 7 - I am
employed as or engaged in the business of? I was thinking of putting retired, none
or disabled with attached explanation. How did others answer this question. Thanks
HUGE age differences!!!
in Off Topic
Posted
Whats the problem MonkeyJuice? You got to start the thread and express your opinion, no one stopped you, you have your freedom! No one closed the thread. I wish we got this many replies to questions regarding real visa questions.
There seem to be strong opinions both ways and they are being expressed (some may be getting a little personal though, don't you think?).
As for the couple you saw, if you really felt they weren't consenting adults, you should have gone up to them and given them a piece of your mind, called a policeman or made a citizens arrest. After all, it is your business, not just theirs. Many of these Asian ladies look 10-15 years younger then they really are, you don't seem to be aware of this or used to it.
So that couple raised a few eyebrows when they walked by. I will bet that most men that saw them, secretly wished that they could be with that lady. Unless you spoke with them and got to know them, you will never know if she was fleecing him or a good lady, will you? Your western up bringing (values) has taught you that this is unnatural and wrong to see this couple together ..wrong wrong wrong, right? What about in this Asian ladies culture, is it accepted in her culture? Maybe, but you will never know. The western way is the only way of thinking, only our religions are good, political views, etc. right? Lets try to be a little open minded about this.
Have to agree, the press likes to sensationalize, after all it does sell (don't believe half of what they say though). Anna Nichol is one example of a real gold digger, former built up dancer and there are foreign brides like this also. Not every case is like that though, or is it in your mind?